Chapter Ten

Poe could feel himself grow more and more agitated. Just a few days ago, he would have used that agitation to lash out, to force a confrontation. Taking a deep breath, he mentally resigned himself to listen to Gala Vash without interrupting.

Gala Vash was one of the most respected rebel leaders in the outer rim. He had fought during the first war against the Empire and had dedicated his life after the war to rebuilding his home planet of Lorth in the aftermath of the devastation.

Still, that didn't make Poe like the man. The evidence of the First Orders tyranny was undisputed. Tyrants did not give up their power. Gala Vash should know this but the man was resolute in his belief that the rebellion should hear the First Order's terms.

"The moment we stop trying for peace, is the moment that we become the oppressors."

"Colonel, I respectfully disagree. You are letting your desire for peace blind you from seeing what the First Order really is. There can be no peace with tyrants and if you had been on Crait you would know that."

The accusation hung in the air. Poe couldn't help himself. These people were supposed to be on their side but when push came to shove, the rebels from the outer rim had abandoned them. That was bad enough in Poe's mind, but to compound the injury by sitting down the enemy was untenable.

After a long moment of tense silence, Gala Vash drew himself up. Fixing Poe with a direct stare, Gala Vash's voice was resolute in his response.

"Democracy gives everyone a voice, not just those whose voices you want to hear. The First Order rose because we ignored the voices from those systems who were unhappy with the actions or rather lack of actions by the Galactic Senate."

Poe opened his mouth to respond but Gala Vash cut him off.

"We romanticize the senate and the republic before it. However, it was the failing of those institutions that allowed the Empire and the First Order to form and to flourish. Too often, those vaulted leaders of the past allowed inaction to rule the day and many people and systems suffered for it. Entire worlds were allowed to languish in slavery while senators debated. The Trade Federation starved entire populations to the brink of genocide and no one acted or acted too late. No, if we do not learn from our own failings, we will be doomed to forever repeat this cycle. The only real way forward is together."

Lips tightening into a thin line, Poe stared back at the man with a mixture of anger and frustration. "You speak of the genocides of the past but fail to bring up the holocaust that just happened. The First Order destroyed an entire system to eliminate the Senate. What reason would they have for rebuilding something that they just obliterated?"

Gala Vash remained unmoved as he countered. "I forget nothing. It is undeniable the atrocities that have been committed by the First Order. But you yourself have said that Snoke is dead. We also know that the vast majority of people belonging to the First Order have been kept in the dark about the crimes their organization has committed. The stormtrooper that left their ranks and joined us has given extensive testimony to the lengths that the First Order leadership goes to brainwash their followers. If there is a chance to peacefully resolve this conflict, we must try. No matter how unlikely or distasteful it may be."

Rising from his chair, Poe could barely contain his anger. "Fine, but I want to be there when the envoy arrives. I want to look them in the eye and judge their words for myself."

"That is your right. I would not bare you from the meeting, however, I will remove you if you in anyway sabotage this chance."

Poe didn't bother to respond. He turned and left the room. The old man was a fool, he thought. A fool that would get them all killed.

…

Doubt and confusion edged into the corners of Kylo's mind. The emotions were not his, he recognized. The Force bond was becoming stronger. Now he could feel Rey's presence in the periphery of his mind at all times. He allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. Her self-righteousness had diminished and now doubt ruled her mind.

She was blocking him, he knew. When he tried to explore the link, it was like his mind ran up against a wall. He could get a sense of the wall, feel the shape of it. Taste the flavor of her, but he could not see inside. At least not yet.

Kylo had not been able to learn much more about the nature of Force bonds. Even the old records from the Empire did not have much information on the phenomenon. Would the bond eventually allow him to locate her? Right now, he could only tell that she was far away from him.

When the bond solidified and allowed them to see each other, he still could not see her surroundings. However, with each vision, he felt more and more like he was there with her. He could even tell what kind of environment she was in.

Kylo knew he had only to be patient. She would eventually be in his reach. When that happened, she would not escape again. She would never be allowed to part from him. He still fumed, thinking about how she had ran away following their confrontation in Snoke's throne room. Coward.

Pulling his mind into the present, he addressed the assembled Knights of Ren. "The formation of our new government is well underway. To help it along, we need to sow disorder in the galaxy. Remind people why a strong hand is always needed. You three are tasked with creating chaos. A subtle approach is required. I want no direct action from any of you. Influence and motivate the populations to turn on each other."

The assembled Knights bowed in unison before leaving. Soon, he promised himself. Soon he would be able to focus his attention on hunting the scavenger down. This delay would only sweeten his satisfaction when he caught her.